Light trap for high power fiber laser connector

Abstract

A fiber laser system includes a fiber laser connector having a housing to terminate a fiber that generates a laser beam. A chamber extends internally along a length of the housing. A light trap includes a plurality of threads formed along a wall of the chamber to trap light reflected back to the fiber laser connector in response to an application of the laser beam to a workpiece.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a fiber connector including a metal housing, the metal housing including a first section to terminate a fiber generating a laser beam and a second different section to encase at least a portion of the fiber; 
 a chamber extending internally along a length of the second section of the metal housing; and 
 a light trap including plurality of threads formed along a wall of the chamber to trap light reflected back to the fiber connector in response to an application of the laser beam to a workpiece. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber has a substantially cylindrical cross-section. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threads are helically shaped around the wall of the chamber. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially uniform pitch between adjacent ones of the plurality of threads. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially non-uniform pitch between adjacent ones of the plurality of threads. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially triangle sawtooth contour. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reflective plating or coating formed on the plurality of threads formed along the wall of the chamber. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the reflective plating or coating comprises a partial reflector. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the reflective plating or coating comprises nickel, chromium, platinum or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least some of the plurality of threads reflect each ray of the light reflected back to the fiber connector multiple times. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the chamber absorbs a portion of each ray of the light reflected back to the fiber connector with each of the multiple times the at least some of the plurality of threads reflect each ray. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the metal housing comprises an end cap. 
     
     
       13. A fiber connector, comprising:
 a metal housing including a section to enclose at least a portion of a fiber arranged to generate a laser beam; 
 a chamber extending internally along a length of the section of the metal housing; and 
 a plurality of threads formed along a wall of the chamber to trap light reflected back to the fiber connector in response to an application of the laser beam to a workpiece. 
 
     
     
       14. The fiber connector of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the chamber has a substantially cylindrical cross-section; and 
 wherein the plurality of threads are helically shaped around the wall of the chamber. 
 
     
     
       15. The fiber connector of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially uniform pitch between adjacent ones of the plurality of threads; and 
 wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially triangle sawtooth contour. 
 
     
     
       16. The fiber connector of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of threads are formed to have a substantially non-uniform pitch between adjacent ones of the plurality of threads. 
     
     
       17. The fiber connector of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a reflective plating or coating formed on the plurality of threads formed along the wall of the chamber; and 
 wherein the reflective plating or coating comprises nickel, chromium, platinum, or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       18. The fiber connector of  claim 17 , wherein at least some of the plurality of threads reflect each ray at least twice. 
     
     
       19. The fiber connector of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a reflective plating formed on the plurality of threads formed along the wall of the chamber; and 
 wherein the reflective plating or coating comprises reflective materials having a reflection in the range of about 50% to 90%. 
 
     
     
       20. The fiber connector  claim 13 , wherein the section of the metal housing comprises a first section of the metal housing, and wherein the metal housing includes a second different section, the second section comprising an end cap.